Date: 4/13/25 2:38 pm From: 'Steve Mirick' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Random coastal sightings (Big number of Snipe and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls)
Jane and I hit the coast and Great Bay today. Not a whole lot to report.
Along the coast, migration has been stagnant for the last couple of
weeks. This weather pattern has been miserable. Continuing spring
birds include Great Egrets (about 6 today), Snowy Egrets (about 10
today) and Greater Yellowlegs (only 5 today). The only new year bird
for us was LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. The coastal storm pushed at least
3 adults in to the shoreline today with two at Ragged Neck in Rye. The
majority of Lesser Black-backed Gulls that winter in the Americas seem
to migrate offshore, presumably with most heading toward breeding
grounds in Greenland (island owned by Denmark). Storms are a good way to
drive them in to the shoreline when they migrate by in mid to late April.
Over in Greenland (town in New Hampshire), the Smith Fields continue to
be the hotspot for Wilson's Snipe. These corn stubble fields are
visible from Newington Road, just south of Great Bay Farm. Two days
ago, we counted 46 Snipe and today WE COUNTED 130 WILSON'S SNIPE!!!!
Jane counted 123, and I counted twice getting 125 and then 130! They
were concentrated in a couple of huge masses out in the corn stubble. A
scope was helpful to see the birds and essential for getting a good
count. They are the masters of blending in. Also out there were 2
female Northern Pintail. This is my highest count (and possibly a new
State record high?) for New Hampshire. My previous high count,
interestingly, was 97 birds on this same date 11 years ago in this same
field!
We then checked Great Bay from the Great Bay Discovery Center.......no
luck with the (or any) Bonaparte's Gulls that Kurk reported. And ducks
on the bay have mostly cleared out.
The weather over the next week looks promising for new Spring migrants.
Look for arrivals of Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Pine,
Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-gray
Gnatcatchers, Hermit Thrush, Chipping Sparrows, Tree and Barn Swallows,
and Broad-winged Hawks. And on the coast more egrets, yellowlegs, and
Glossy Ibis.
